The relationship between contingent self-esteem and trait self-esteem

Psychology researchers have suggested that in addition to its level, self-esteem is also manifested by other psychological components. One such component is contingency, which is the degree to which one’s feeling of self-worth is influenced by evaluative standards. I investigated how contingent self-esteem is related to trait self-esteem using Paradise and Kernis’ Contingent Self-Esteem Scale and Rosenberg’s (trait) Self-Esteem Scale. Data collected from classroom (N = 898) and Internet (N = 655) groups rendered a significant and consistent negative relationship between contingent and trait self-esteem. In addition, higher contingent self-esteem individuals tend to have a greater variability with their trait self-esteem levels; as individuals age, their contingent self-esteem tends to decrease; psychological sensitivity to evaluations is the contingent component most strongly associated with the level of self-esteem; and some evaluative resources, such as appearance, performance, and relationship, can be used by some individuals to boost their self-esteem. Future researchers should consider that the contingency of self-esteem is the psychological component not only related to the stability of self-esteem but also to the level of self-esteem.